Creating in FlowThe world of creativity—with a twist of rationalityhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/
en-US30Fri, 09 Feb 2018 15:28:08 -0500Fri, 09 Feb 2018 17:54:21 -0500How to Dredge Up Some Gratitude After Life Slams Youhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201802/how-dredge-some-gratitude-after-life-slams-you
What if it's NOT "all good"? You can learn to restructure your thinking and experience small amounts of gratitude on even the darkest days. Consider these strategies.GratitudeGriefResiliencehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201802/how-dredge-some-gratitude-after-life-slams-you#comments1111718 at http://psychologytoday.comFri, 09 Feb 2018 15:28:08 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.(Not So Small) Lessons About Writing and Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201801/not-so-small-lessons-about-writing-and-life
You can learn a lot from reading good writers. One such is Ashley Hay, whose new book is A Hundred Small Lessons. Here's our Q&A.CreativityEmpathyFamily DynamicsMarriagehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201801/not-so-small-lessons-about-writing-and-life#comments1110648 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 10 Jan 2018 14:50:02 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.The A to (Almost) Z of How Flow Helped Sue Grafton Find Famehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201801/the-almost-z-how-flow-helped-sue-grafton-find-fame
It's no mystery that Sue Grafton loved to write. The joy of being in flow is one reason why, as she explained in this interview.CareerConscientiousnessCreativityPerfectionismProductivityRelationshipshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201801/the-almost-z-how-flow-helped-sue-grafton-find-fame#comments1110383 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 01 Jan 2018 17:33:47 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.What Sexy Dreams Say About Your Psychehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201712/what-sexy-dreams-say-about-your-psyche
One woman's sex dream is another's nightmare. But such dreams may tell you something about your real life, both in and out of bed.DreamingFantasiesSelf-HelpSexSleephttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201712/what-sexy-dreams-say-about-your-psyche#comments1095373 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 03 Dec 2017 18:07:48 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.Grief Lessonshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201711/grief-lessons
My husband of 34 years died recently. Unprepared for the reality of terrible loss, I learned how to grieve like everyone does: the hard way. Here are 12 lessons....DepressionGriefGuiltRelationshipsResiliencehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201711/grief-lessons#comments1109037 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 23 Nov 2017 11:37:34 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.7 Suggestions to Help You Find Writerly Flowhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201711/7-suggestions-help-you-find-writerly-flow
Here is some creatively inspiring advice from writers and poets to help you find your own sense of flow.CreativityHabit Formationhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201711/7-suggestions-help-you-find-writerly-flow#comments1108408 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 06 Nov 2017 08:00:00 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.Am I Talented Enough?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201709/am-i-talented-enough
You have big artistic aspirations. Knowing what and who to ask can help make your vision a reality, with some fine-tuning.CareerCreativityMotivationhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201709/am-i-talented-enough#comments1105139 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 27 Sep 2017 13:56:09 -0400Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.The Creepy Appeal of the Bad Guy Narratorhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201709/the-creepy-appeal-the-bad-guy-narrator
When the bad guy pops into your head and demands a novel, what can you do? That's easy. You write from the point of view of a narcissist.CreativityDeceptionNarcissismRelationshipshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201709/the-creepy-appeal-the-bad-guy-narrator#comments1105461 at http://psychologytoday.comTue, 19 Sep 2017 19:52:40 -0400Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.Tell Your Story, Change Your Lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201708/tell-your-story-change-your-life
Writing about loss can change your life in a positive way. Consider the five stages to writing and healing as explained in this guest post by Sandra Marinella.CreativityDepressionGriefResiliencehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201708/tell-your-story-change-your-life#comments1105053 at http://psychologytoday.comFri, 25 Aug 2017 00:30:16 -0400Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.The Hipster & the Clairvoyant: 6 Bad Openings for Your Bookhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201708/the-hipster-the-clairvoyant-6-bad-openings-your-book
Finish your novel or memoir with the help of book doctor Dinty W. Moore's six easy-to-identify missteps beginning writers often make.Creativityhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201708/the-hipster-the-clairvoyant-6-bad-openings-your-book#comments1104532 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 05 Aug 2017 18:21:57 -0400Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.Some Mysteries Take the Genre to a New Levelhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201707/some-mysteries-take-the-genre-new-level
Literary? Who knows or cares. This mystery novel is delightful and worth reading long into the cold dark night.CreativityLaw and Crimehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201707/some-mysteries-take-the-genre-new-level#comments1102864 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 27 Jul 2017 18:25:22 -0400Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.Craving More Meaningful Trips?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201707/craving-more-meaningful-trips
Guest blogger and constant traveler Steven Barber reviews an unusual travel guide, one that helps you figure yourself out in order to plan and take better trips.CreativityPersonalitySelf-HelpSensation-Seekinghttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201707/craving-more-meaningful-trips#comments1104452 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 12 Jul 2017 19:24:26 -0400Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.Imagine Falling Back in Time 600 Years — And Liking Ithttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201706/imagine-falling-back-in-time-600-years-and-liking-it
When a good writer creates a believable world on the page, it doesn't matter where you go in time, you'll want to keep turning pages.CreativityEmpathyNeuroscienceRelationshipshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201706/imagine-falling-back-in-time-600-years-and-liking-it#comments1103751 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 24 Jun 2017 02:25:29 -0400Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.What If Your Mind Lost Its Words?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201706/what-if-your-mind-lost-its-words
Imagine if you stopped talking to yourself in your head. Living with impaired language abilities changes the way we think about who we are. A first-person account illuminates.CognitionHealthMemoryNeurosciencehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201706/what-if-your-mind-lost-its-words#comments1101525 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 05 Jun 2017 15:51:26 -0400Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.I Have Seen Your Brain and It Might Not Be So Prettyhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201705/i-have-seen-your-brain-and-it-might-not-be-so-pretty
Can a specialized scan of your brain tell us if you are awake and aware? If you are a nice person or a psychopath?Behavioral EconomicsNeurosciencehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201705/i-have-seen-your-brain-and-it-might-not-be-so-pretty#comments1102445 at http://psychologytoday.comTue, 16 May 2017 18:10:05 -0400Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.Finding Meaning After Losing Faithhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201705/finding-meaning-after-losing-faith
Young people who question everything may be born into communities that insist it is wrong to doubt their religion. Here's the story of one who got away and found his own meaning.ConformityCreativityEthics and MoralityMemoryPhilosophyReligionSpiritualityhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201705/finding-meaning-after-losing-faith#comments1100166 at http://psychologytoday.comTue, 02 May 2017 21:00:42 -0400Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.I Keep Good Stuff, You Hoard Junk: 10 Insightshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201704/i-keep-good-stuff-you-hoard-junk-10-insights
A diversity of odd habits and rituals for quelling anxiety lies along the continuum between normal and diagnosable. You may recognize some of these compulsions.AnxietyCompulsive BehaviorsConscientiousnessOCDPersonality Disordershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201704/i-keep-good-stuff-you-hoard-junk-10-insights#comments1100642 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 22 Apr 2017 02:00:51 -0400Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.17 Ways to Foster Creativity in a Practical Kidhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201704/17-ways-foster-creativity-in-practical-kid
Does your child show little interest in the usual arts and crafts? Some kids are most passionate about how the real world works, and can be remarkably creative. You can help.Child DevelopmentCreativityParentinghttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201704/17-ways-foster-creativity-in-practical-kid#comments1095298 at http://psychologytoday.comSun, 09 Apr 2017 23:33:53 -0400Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.Write Better By Reading Better Bookshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201704/write-better-reading-better-books
Some authors find they can't read other writers' work while they're creating their own. Others never stop reading and learning from the best. Eight new-ish novels to sink into.CreativityMotivationhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201704/write-better-reading-better-books#comments1100721 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 01 Apr 2017 12:48:49 -0400Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.Could Your Brain Make You Do Insane Things?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201703/could-your-brain-make-you-do-insane-things
A brain tumor may figure in the insanity defense of the youth who fake-called Jewish community centers in the U.S. and elsewhere. Brain-imaging is gaining credence in courts.Emotion RegulationEthics and MoralityLaw and CrimeNeurosciencehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201703/could-your-brain-make-you-do-insane-things#comments1100625 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 25 Mar 2017 19:21:43 -0400Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.What Would Your Protest Sign Say?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201703/what-would-your-protest-sign-say
Whether you're for or against something or everything, there are many ways to be effective. You'll also feel better by doing something. Here's an idea.Consumer BehaviorCreativityMediaPersuasionPoliticshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201703/what-would-your-protest-sign-say#comments1100013 at http://psychologytoday.comTue, 07 Mar 2017 18:56:53 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.Writers: How to Be Fired Up, Not Burned Outhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201703/writers-how-be-fired-not-burned-out
Starting something new is not the only way to get excited about writing again. Here are some reflections about how to find flow.BurnoutCareerCreativityDepressionMotivationhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201703/writers-how-be-fired-not-burned-out#comments1098871 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 02 Mar 2017 15:19:00 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.6 Tips Toward Getting Your Book Publishedhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201702/6-tips-toward-getting-your-book-published
Anyone serious about turning written work into actual books must do a lot of research into the realities of publishing before sending anything into the world. Here are 6 tips.CareerCreativityMotivationhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201702/6-tips-toward-getting-your-book-published#comments1095218 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 20 Feb 2017 14:47:02 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.Purposeful Quirks Can Help You Build a Can-Do Attitudehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201702/purposeful-quirks-can-help-you-build-can-do-attitude
I interviewed dozens of famous writers and wrote a book about them. One of the nicest was Carolyn See. Read my interview with her now.CreativityHabit FormationMotivationTime Managementhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201702/purposeful-quirks-can-help-you-build-can-do-attitude#comments1095308 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 11 Feb 2017 16:27:04 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.The Challenge of Writing and Publishing Dark Fictionhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201702/the-challenge-writing-and-publishing-dark-fiction
Think it's easy to write a serious book about good, evil, love, cowardice, Nazis, and a small group of people stuck on a desert island? An interview with Daniel A. Blum.CreativityFantasieshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201702/the-challenge-writing-and-publishing-dark-fiction#comments1098724 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 06 Feb 2017 16:50:06 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.20/20 Hindsight and How to Avoid Regrethttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201701/2020-hindsight-and-how-avoid-regret
Your Inner Critic is the seemingly invincible voice that makes you second-guess your every step and finds you wanting. Let meditation teacher Mark Coleman help you free yourself.AnxietyDecision-MakingMindfulnessResiliencehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201701/2020-hindsight-and-how-avoid-regret#comments1097435 at http://psychologytoday.comSat, 28 Jan 2017 23:27:09 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.Minimum Daily Requirement for Creativityhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201701/minimum-daily-requirement-creativity
Tips to help you "Start Right Where You Are: How Little Changes Can Make a Big Difference for Overwhelmed Procrastinators, Frustrated Overachievers, and Recovering Perfectionists."CreativityPerfectionismProcrastinationhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201701/minimum-daily-requirement-creativity#comments1097433 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 12 Jan 2017 23:01:45 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.6 New Novels With Unexpected, Unforgettable Charactershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201701/6-new-novels-unexpected-unforgettable-characters
I get bored reading the same kind of novel over and over. But when an author shows me a fresh point of view, I'm hooked. These books lure you in with unusual characters.CreativityResilienceTraumahttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201701/6-new-novels-unexpected-unforgettable-characters#comments1095593 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 02 Jan 2017 14:40:44 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.5 More Ways to Fight Creative Block and Enter Flowhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201612/5-more-ways-fight-creative-block-and-enter-flow
Your inner critic deserves to be called a big jerk because it's judging you prematurely with no basis in truth. Here are some ways to disarm the jerk.CreativityHabit FormationProcrastinationhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201612/5-more-ways-fight-creative-block-and-enter-flow#comments1095219 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 19 Dec 2016 18:21:42 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.A Science-y Take on Time Travel Needn't Break Your Brainhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201612/science-y-take-time-travel-neednt-break-your-brain
Time travel isn't possible, says science, unless some currently unimaginable things happen. But don't let that dim your pleasure in the fantasy. An expert guide helps.CreativityFantasiesFree WillNeurosciencePhilosophyhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/201612/science-y-take-time-travel-neednt-break-your-brain#comments1097016 at http://psychologytoday.comFri, 09 Dec 2016 19:50:59 -0500Creating in FlowSusan K Perry Ph.D.